Earlier I mentioned that while IE7 was going to be one of the
central features of Windows Vista, versions of IE7 had already been
released for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. All of the
security features that I have discussed so far exist in all
versions of IE7.
There are, however, at least two security features that are
present in the Windows Vista version of IE7, but that will not
exist in other versions.
The first of these features is isolation from the operating
system (OS). The Windows Vista version of IE7 is designed in such a
way that the only location on the hard disk that IE7 will be able
to write data to is the Temporary Internet Files folder. The only
way that Web content can be written to other locations is with
explicit permission from the user who is accessing the site.
The other security feature built into Windows Vista is a set of
parental controls designed to control browsing behavior.
Previously, browsing behavior could be controlled through Internet
Explorer's Content Advisor. There was a problem with the Content
Advisor, though. In order for the Content Advisor to be effective,
a Web site had to be coded to present a rating.
The
Content Advisor still exists (and has even
been extended) in IE7. However, Windows Vista contains a robust
set of parental controls that can control access to content
across many aspects of the OS (video games, music, etc.). These
same parental controls have also been integrated into IE 7.
Internet Explorer 7 is full of new security features, but only a
handful of these features are user configurable. That is indeed a
good thing, because it means that the majority of the security
features cannot be disabled.
Configuring IE7 security on Vista
Home:
Introduction
Step 1:
General security configuration
Step 2:
Phishing filter
Step 3:
Protection against international domain names, URL
handling
Step 4:
ActiveX opt-ins, information bar and cross-domain
protection
Step 5:
Windows Vista and IE7
| ABOUT THE
AUTHOR: |
|
Brien M. Posey, MCSE, MVP
Brien M. Posey, MCSE, is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for
his work with Windows 2000 Server and IIS. He has served as CIO for
a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once in charge of IT
security for Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer, he has
written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant
Technologies and other technology companies. You can visit his
personal Web site at
www.brienposey.com.Copyright 2006TechTarget |
|